Wednesday 07/02/14

Brazil soybeans exports continued on their downward curve in June as the immediate post-harvest clamor subsides in the world's No. 2 producing country.

Shipments totaled 6.9 million metric tons (mmt) last month, down from 8.3 mmt in April and 7.6 mmt in May, but still higher than the 6.5 mmt sent in June 2013.

The numbers underline perceptions that Brazilian port logistics have improved this year, due principally to an improvement in logistics management, dry weather at the key ports and less corn bunging up grain export terminals.

In June, Brazil shipped just 87,600 metric tons of corn (mt), down from 369,000 mt in the same month one year before.

Shipments of all soy complex products remain strong, which has allowed first-half revenues to jump 17% to $20.1 billion, thus substantially outperforming the second item of the Brazilian export list, iron ore with $14 billion.

Wed Jun 17, 2015 01:32 PM CDTA lack of consensus over how farmers will react to low grain prices and credit restrictions means local analysts can't agree on whether the Brazilian soybean crop area will rise or fall in 2015-16.

Mon Jun 15, 2015 02:57 PM CDTBrazilian farmers will use less fertilizer on their soybean and corn crops in 2015-16, the first drop in NPK use in six years. Meanwhile, an import bottleneck may cause fertilizer prices to rise in the second half of the year.

Wed Jun 10, 2015 09:29 AM CDTBrazil authorities hope the U.S. will announce a lifting of a ban on its fresh beef shipments to coincide with an official visit by President Dilma Rousseff at the end of the month.

Wed Jun 3, 2015 10:28 AM CDTBrazil's government announced a 20% increase in official farm credit for the upcoming 2015-16 season, which came as a pleasant surprise to farmers who thought the budget would be the same as last year at best. The increased funding may help bolster soybean area next year.

Wed May 27, 2015 02:11 PM CDTBrazil's government has eased its grip on fuel prices, offering ethanol producers some relief, but the outlook for the industry still doesn't look that bright as uncertainties abound.

Wed May 20, 2015 11:34 AM CDTArgentina's government propose an Intacta seed registry as a way to curb illegal business and resolve the impasse over soybean testing by exporters, crushers and elevators.